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Probity
Providing and publishing information about your services 60. If you publish information about your medical services, you must make sure the information is factual and verifiable. 61. You must not make unjustifiable claims about the quality or outcomes of your services in any information you provide to patients. It must not offer guarantees of cures, nor exploit patient’s vulnerability or lack of medical knowledge. 62. You must not put pressure on people to use a service, for example by arousing ill-founded fears for their future health. (GMC, Good Medical Practice, 2006)
Providing and publishing information about your services Providing information to patients is an important and positive part of practice. Patients want to know what services are provided in the practice, which ones can only be used on your recommendation, and which ones they can access directly. They need to know about arrangements for out-of-hours care and when they will next be able to talk to a member of the practice team. This applies to written information (e.g. your practice leaflet), to your website and to any recorded telephone information. The information in your practice literature or website needs to be accurate and factual, and should avoid making comparisons with others. It should be reviewed regularly and kept up to date. Your responsibilities are to provide information for your own patients and to those thinking about registering with your practice. You should not go out and canvass or entice patients to join your practice. The exemplary GP • has a clear, accurate and up-to-date practice leaflet containing information about services provided, and has a clear and accurate website. The unacceptable GP • does not have a practice leaflet or website, or has one that is untrue or selfpromoting • does not give clear messages concerning out-of-hours arrangements and times when the practice is open • visits or phones prospective patients to encourage them to join the practice.